Karnataka’s Legal Action Highlights Urgent Need for Timely Financial Assistance Amid Drought Crisis
Tired of waiting for drought relief funds, the Congress-ruled Karnataka government has moved the Supreme Court to compel the Union government to release the long-awaited financial aid. Despite several months passing since the filing of a report by the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to make a final decision on releasing the funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The state government’s writ petition, filed under Article 32, asserts the citizens’ fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, emphasizing the duty of the state to safeguard these rights.
Seeking Rs 18,171.44 crore as drought relief, Karnataka has designated 223 out of 236 taluks as drought-affected. The plea, represented by advocate D L Chidananda, challenges the Centre’s failure to disburse financial assistance, deeming it illegal and arbitrary.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the legal action against the Union government, stressing that the state should not have to plead for NDRF funds. He highlighted the mounting pressure from farmers, disclosing that his government has already disbursed Rs 2,000 to each drought-affected farmer as interim relief.
Despite repeated appeals to the Union government, including a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Siddaramaiah lamented the lack of response. The delayed release of funds, expected by November 2023, has severely impacted the state, which has suffered losses of 48 lakh hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops due to drought.
The petition underscores the undue delay by the Ministry of Home Affairs in convening a high-level committee meeting to approve relief from the NDRF. Under the drought management manual, the central government is mandated to decide on assistance within a month of receiving the IMCT report.
Siddaramaiah revealed that while the state has allocated Rs 1,017 crore for drought management, it requires Rs 4,663 crore for input subsidies. As the Supreme Court is in recess for a week, the matter is expected to be heard thereafter.
This marks the first instance of a state government approaching the Supreme Court to secure drought relief funds, reflecting the severity of the situation and the urgency of assistance needed.
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